Banning zero-hours would increase unemployment and the shadow economy

Ruth Porter debated zero-hours contracts with Natalie Bennett from the Green Party on the Nolan Show.

She argued that zero-hours contracts are an important part of our labour market. One of the reasons we've retained low unemployment in difficult economic times is because of the flexibility that exists in the UK labour market.

Surveys show that only 16% of the people on these contracts were failing to get the amount of hours they wanted and also that the vast majority of people on these contracts are happy with them. For some people, such as students and parents, such flexibility is very valuable.

Banning zero-hours contracts would increase unemployment and drive workers into cash-in-hand work in the shadow economy.